On -the -rhine



(No Model.)

P. HARTMANN. FILE 0R HOLDER FOR LETTERS 0R SIMILAR PAPERS. No. 438,154.

Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL HARTMANN, OF LUDWIGSHAFEN-ON-THE-RIIINE, GERMANY.

FILE OR HOLDER FOR LETTERS OR SIMILAR PAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,154, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed July 26, 1890. fierial No. 360,070. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL HARTMANN, a subject of the King of Wiirtemberg, residing at Ludwigshafen-on-the-Rhine, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Files or Holders for Letters and Similar Papers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in paper files or holders; and it consists, essentially, in a clip made of an elastic shank provided at one end with a stop or plate and at the other end with a slotted cap, which, after being passed through the hole or puncture in the letters or other papers to be filed, is turned at right angles down upon the papers. One or more such clips may be attached to a jaw or plate, to which latter is preferably hinged a second jaw or plate provided with openings for the passage of the clip.

My invention as applied to a hinged file or holder is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a crosssection, of the holder when open. Fig. 3 is a top view, and Fig. 4 a cross-section, of the holder when closed. Fig. 5 is a rear View, and Fig. 6 a cross-section, of the holderwhen closed and the caps turned down upon the holder. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views of the clip on a larger scale than the preceeding figures.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, referring at present to Figs. 1 to 6, the letters'A and B designate the two hinged jaws or plates of the holder. S S designate the clips, which are secured to the jaw or plate A at a a, the jaw or section B being provided with suitable openings 1) b for the passage of the same. Each clip S consists of an elastic shank 9, made preferably of rubber, one end of which is embraced by a cap h, made of sheet metal or other nonelastic material. The cap h is cut away or slotted through a portion of its length, Figs. 8 and 9, so as to permit of said cap being turned, together with that portion of the shank embraced thereby, at right angles to the remainder of the shank, the cap then resting across the opening in the jaw or plate B. The shank can be made tubular or solid and the cap secured thereto in any usual manner. In the drawings I have shown the cap provided with a head, as k, to facilitate the manipulation of the clip. However, the general shape of the cap can be altered at will. The end of the clip can be secured to the jaw or plate in any suitable manner-for instance, by providing said jaw or plate with openings at a a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and then securing the clip by means of the eyelets 0. (Shown in Fig. 10.)

When the jaws or plates A and B are open, Fig. 2, the clips project in a straight line from the jaw or plate A, so that the letters or other papers to be filed, after being properly punctured, can be readily passed over the same. After the papers have been placed on the clips the jaws or plates are closed, the clips being made to pass through the openings b b in the jaw B. The clips are then drawn outwardly from the jaws until the inner ends of the metal caps are clear of the jaw B, whereupon the said caps are turned at right angles to the shanks and are held across the holes by the contraction of the shanks.

It is evident that the jaws or plates can be provided with one or more clips, as may be found necessary, and, furthermore, that instead of the former being hinged together two separate jaws or plates could be used.

In many cases it is found convenient to use the clip for filing papers without the jaws or plates A and B, in which case the clip is provided merely with a back plate or stop of sufficient dimensions to hold the paper.

What I claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clip consisting of an elastic shank provided with a plate orvstop at one end and at the other end with a slotted cap, substantially as described.

2. In a paper file or holder, the two plates A and B, the plate A being provided with a clip or clips, each consisting of a flexible shank and a slotted cap, and the plate B being provided with an opening or openings for the In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 10 of two subscribing Witnesses.

PAUL HARTMANN.

Witnesses:

O. W. J ORL, R. GROPP. 

